Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-13
GOULD AND HIS SCHEMES.
The Railway Magnate Interyiewcd-Hi
Views on Interstate Commerce.


Views on Inter state Commerce.
ST. Louis, January l2,-Mr. Jay Gould,
accompanied by A. l.. Hopkins, of New
York, and General Manager Clark, started
this morning for an extended tour of in
spectiOn of his railroad properties, going
first to Texas. Mr.. Gould confirmed the
statements recently made in these dis
patches that arrangements are IN pro-
greSs to practically abolish the bridge ar
bitrary here and to operate the bridge so
that its revenue shall barely cover its
fixed charges. When this arrange.
ment will he perfected Mr.. Gould could
not definitely state, but he said that it
will he in the near future. lie also said
that General Manager Clark has been au-
thOrzed to call for plans for IL new union
depot, from local architects, and that dur
ing the coming year he hoped to see the
building completed. 1t is to he situated
between Twelfth and Fourteenth streets,
600 feet long, with east and west entrances,
of sufficient width to cover ali the tracks
in the present depot yards, and will he a
structure of modern architecture, cmbrac-
ing all the late Improvements, and to cost
upwards of 81 900, 900. He also discussed
surface and elevated tracks to enable the
Iron Mountain road to reach the union
depot, = expressing preference Lar the
former, and stated that the Municipal AS
scmbly will be again petitiOned for the
privilege of laying track from the pres
ent station of the Iron Mountain at Fourth
street to ChOuteau avenue to the union
depot.
Mr.. Gould declined to talk about the
Wabash matters, thought well of the pro-
iect To establish extensive stock yards in
the western suburbs of the city, said lie
was considering plans for the extension soi
the Missouri Pacific in Colorado but while
nothing had been done definitely, num-
Der of extensions and feeders will be built
during the year and probably rs many
miles of road he added TO the system in 1887
as in lSs6. When asked his opinion Ofthc
| Interstate Commerce bill he added:
81 am in favor of it, provided it is re-
vised and made clear, which the original
| bill is not. The long and short haul clause
is especially ambiguous, and see that
Senator CullOm has taken occasion to ex-
plain and endeavOr to make it clear. Ii
the bill is rs he claims, its intents and pur-
poses should have been clearly defined at
| first, rendering such an explanation Of 1t
unnecessary. When the bill once becomes
n law and the railroads of the country are
compelled to work under its regulations,
they must not intelligent
| ly. The long and short haul
clause, aS traffic men interpret it, amounts
to practical exclusion of the products OF
the Far West from the markets of the
East While it will have q damaging
effect upon the West, it will he an advan-
| tage to many of the Eastern States, and
Ohio and Indiana farmers will be bene-
| fitted by it. The section of the bill max
ing it's violation penal Offense is decided
| " ambiguous. That clause will have q
most detrimental effect upon the West,
where there will be clamOr for its repeal.
| The wiSeSt course to pursue would he to
appoint an intelligent commission and let
that body pess upon all questions aris-
ing"
F'How do you regard the failure of the
bill to regulate the waterways of the
cSuntry?'
Il think that the mistake is a grave
one, but nothing Will demonstrate TINS a.
clearly rs a trial of the measure. am
| inclined to believe that st. Louis will
snfler less than other points not tOuchOd
by a waterway. There can be no control
of the Canadian railways and Chicago can
get ont in that direction. The bill will be
of incalcuable advantage to these lines, and
the ultimate result will be to divert trade
from Eastern points TO Montreal. New
orleans and Galveston will hold the Texas
trade, and the Mississippi river will enable
st. Louis to protect herself far better than
any interior city
"What is your position with reference
| to the fast mail service from st. Louise
81 am not only willing, but ready tc
accept the same terms rs made with the
Burlington, and can inaugurate the service
on short notice. The fast mail train would
leave st. Louis at 2:30 4. M, and arrive IL
Kansas City at 10 o'clock the same morn
ing. 1t would require very brief notice t.
adopt the fast mail system, and there Is ~
reason why it should not be done